Wylie Therapist's New Book Outlines 10 Music Therapy Methods for Wellbeing

A Wylie-based music therapist has published a new book that distills 25 years of clinical practice into 10 practical methods residents can use to support mental and physical wellbeing. Music for the Heart, released in November, focuses on intentional uses of music beyond entertainment and aims to make therapeutic techniques accessible to families, educators and local clinicians.

Author and practitioner Daniel Tague framed music therapy as the application of music to achieve nonmusical goals. He noted the approach is designed to be tailored to individual needs and settings - from autism support to pre-operation stress reduction - rather than primarily teaching instrument skills. "Every chapter is about, 'How do you use music more efficiently, more intentionally in your life to help you have a better life,'" Tague said.

The book translates clinical methods into steps readers can use at home, in classrooms or in clinic settings. Examples highlighted by Tague include using rhythm and melody to help students focus and memorize, and structured musical interventions to enhance communication for people with developmental differences. Those techniques align with broader public health goals of expanding low-cost, nonpharmacologic tools for stress reduction and mental health support.

For Collin County, where schools and healthcare providers are often the first line of support for children and adults with behavioral and emotional needs, the publication could change how local practitioners and families think about everyday interventions. Music-based techniques can be adapted for group settings such as after-school programs, community centers and waiting rooms in medical facilities, potentially reducing pre-procedure anxiety and improving engagement in therapy and learning.

Access and equity remain central concerns. While the book offers do-it-yourself strategies, the effectiveness of music therapy often depends on trained professionals and consistent services. Policy choices about school staffing, Medicaid and private insurance coverage, and funding for community health programs will shape whether the benefits reach lower-income and underserved neighborhoods in Collin County.

Physical and e-book editions of Music for the Heart are available, giving caregivers and local providers an immediate resource to try evidence-informed practices. As local educators and health teams look for ways to address rising demand for mental health supports, Tague’s work offers concrete methods that can be integrated into existing programs or used informally at home.

For readers in Collin County, the book provides practical steps to add music intentionally to care routines, classroom tools and stress-management plans. How schools, clinics and community groups choose to adopt those methods will determine whether the techniques translate into wider wellbeing gains across the county.